The Blues have signed Brian Flynn to a one-year, two-way deal worth $650K.
NHL Hockey Player News
The Panthers have signed Jared McCann to a two-year contract.
The Bruins have signed Joakim Nordstrom to a two-year deal worth $2M ($1.0M AAV).
The Canadiens have signed Matthew Peca to a two-year deal worth $2.6M ($1.3M AAV).
Signing
The Devils have signed Eric Gryba to a one-year deal worth $700K.
The Lightning have signed Ryan McDonagh to a seven-year extension worth $47.25M ($6.75M AAV).
The Canadiens have signed Xavier Ouellet to a one-year, two-way deal worth $700K.
The Sabres have re-signed Scott Wilson to a two-year deal worth $2.1M ($1.05M AAV).
The Bruins have signed John Moore to a five-year deal worth $13.75M ($2.75M AAV).
Moore had his best offensive seasons during his three years in New Jersey, averaging eight goals and 12 assists (20 points) per season. However, a 46.5 CF% and -1.1 relative Corsi in those seasons, suggests that the Bruins may regret a five-year term in a few seasons. Regardless, Moore is a reasonable third-pairing defenseman that increases the Bruins’ D-depth.
The Panthers have signed Michael Hutchinson to a one-year, $1.3M contract.
Hutchinson started at least 28 games for three straight seasons from 2015-to-2017 but spent the majority of 2018 in the AHL. Overall, he was 17-5-1 with a 2.08 GAA and .935 SV% with the Manitoba Moose. Hutchinson is No.3 on the Panthers’ goaltending depth chart, so he will start the 2019 season in the AHL.
The Penguins have signed Jack Johnson to a five-year contract worth $16.25M ($3.25M AAV).
Johnson is a former No.3 overall pick, who has had a few bad years. Johnson is coming off of a season in which he had a -5.4 relative Corsi and was a healthy scratch during the playoffs. However, Johnson remains a high-end skater who can play a physical style of game and brings some offence as well. In Pittsburgh, he will be an upgrade on Chad Ruhwedel as a third-pairing defenseman.
The Maple Leafs have signed John Tavares to a seven-year, $77M ($11M AAV) deal.
Tavares walks away from the Islanders after nine seasons, in which he scored 272 goals with 349 assists (621 points) in 669 games. The 27-year-old signs with his childhood team, joining one of the best, young teams in the NHL. Tavares, Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri is as formidable of a trio down the middle as you will find across the league. Over the last four seasons, Tavares is sixth in the NHL in points (306), tied for sixth in goals (136) and 22nd in assists (170). His cap-hit is now tied with Drew Doughty for the second highest in the NHL.
The Coyotes have signed Michael Grabner to a three-year contract worth $10.05M ($3.35M AAV).
Over the last two seasons, Grabner is tied for 35th in the NHL with 54 goals. However, he leads the league in empty net goals (11) over that span. That’s 20.4 percent of his goals without a goalie, so don’t expect the 30-year-old to score 25-plus goals each year. In Arizona, he brings a ton of speed, some offence and penalty killing to a young team in need of all of those qualities.
The Hurricanes have signed Petr Mrazek to a one-year deal worth $1.5M.
Mrazek looked like the goalie of the future in Detroit during the 2016 season, when he was 27-16-6 with a 2.33 GAA and .921 SV%. In the two seasons since, Mrazek is tied with the second-worst SV% (.901) among qualified starters. The Flyers elected not to qualify the 26-year-old, so he lands in Carolina where he will battle with Scott Darling for playing time in the crease.
The Oilers have signed Kyle Brodziak to a two-year contract worth $2.3M ($1.15M AAV).
Brodziak, who was born in nearby St. Paul, Alberta returns to Edmonton, where he played from 2006 to 2009. The 34-year-old showed he still has some left in the tank last year, posting 33 points (10G / 23A) in 81 games with the Blues. He is a defensively-sound, hard-working centre who will play on the Oilers’ fourth line and help their penalty kill.
The Sabres have signed Carter Hutton to a three-year deal worth $8.25M ($2.75M AAV).
Hutton had an excellent 2018 season, going 17-7-3 with a 2.09 GAA, .931 SV% and three shutouts in 32 games with the Blues. Over the last three seasons, Hutton is tied for first in GAA (2.25) among goalies with at least 60 starts—posting a .922 SV%. Now with the Sabres, Hutton has the chance to become their No.1 netminder, but he will have to outplay Linus Ullmark.
The Blues have signed David Perron to a four-year, $16M ($4.0M AAV) contract.
Perron was originally drafted by the Blues and played for them from 2008-to-2013 and against in 2017. The 30-year-old returns to St. Louis after one year in Vegas, where he posted career-highs in assists (50) and points (66). Perron will find himself back in the Blues’ top-6, where he will likely play alongside Ryan O’Reilly.
The Islanders have re-signed Thomas Hickey to a four-year deal worth $10M ($2.5M AAV).
Hickey was the No.4 overall pick in 2007 and has enjoyed moderate success during his first six seasons with the Islanders. Hickey is coming off of a career-year, picking up 25 points (5G / 20A) in 69 games. He is a very mobile, puck-moving defenseman who will be a key part of the Isles’ top-4.
The Blues have signed Tyler Bozak to a three-year, $15M ($5.0M AAV) deal.
Bozak is a No.2/No.3 line centre with some offensive ability. Bozak skates very well and is good on the face-off dot. The 32-year-old has scored 20-plus just once during his nine year career, but has registered 30-plus assists in three of the last five years. Bozak was likely going to be the Blues second-line centre, until they acquired Ryan O’Reilly from Buffalo—pushing him down the depth chart.
The Avalanche have signed Ian Cole to a three-year deal worth $12.75M ($4.25M AAV).
Cole has good size (6-foot-1, 219 lbs.) who is a mainly a shutdown defenseman. Despite not having high-end ability or seeing power-play time, Cole has had 20-plus points in back-to-back seasons. Cole’s signing in Colorado suggests that Conor Timmins may not be in the NHL in 2019.
NHL Player News: Your Ultimate Source for Hockey Player News
At Daily Faceoff you can stay in the know regarding all 32 teams and their top players this season. From trades, to injuries, and everything in between, you can find all the latest NHL player news today here. Staying up to date with player news NHL can also give you a competitive edge in your fantasy hockey leagues, as well as your NHL bets.
Check out all the latest NHL updates below and learn more about the hottest updates in the hockey world today.
Who are the top NHL players to watch this season?
There’s never been more talent scattered across the NHL than there is this season. With living legends like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin still setting records left-and-right, alongside today’s current superstars such as Connor McDavid and Nathan Mackinnon, the level of talent in the NHL is at an all-time high. Along with these established stars, there’s plenty of budding stars emerging every season such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Matvei Michkov.
What are the latest updates on NHL player suspensions or disciplinary actions?
Already this season we’ve seen the hammer brought down by the NHL Department of Player Safety. Notable suspensions and fines include Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs who was given a five-game suspension for an illegal check to the head against the Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot who was dealt a three-game suspension, also for an illegal hit to the head.
In the 2023-24 season, there were a total of 14 suspensions and 17 fines issued throughout the NHL. The longest suspension served was dealt to former-Detroit Red Wing David Perron at six-games after a cross-checking penalty dealt ironically against his current team in the 2024-25 season, the Ottawa Senators. Additionally, Perron was fined $148,437.48 for his actions.
How are NHL player performances impacting fantasy hockey?
NHL player performances make a direct impact on the outcome of any fantasy hockey matchup. Staying up to date with the latest news and performances of your team’s players can be the difference between winning and losing.
Some notable fantasy hockey performers that flew under the radar in most drafts this year include Martin Necas (123 ADP) of the Carolina Hurricanes and Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks. While sleeper picks are always a great get, nothing is worse than a bust taken early on. Some of the most disappointing players of the fantasy hockey season includes Zach Hyman (28 ADP) of the Edmonton Oilers and Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars (33 ADP).
Whether you’re checking out how your current rostered players are performing or scouting for hidden gems on the waiver wire, the latest player news can help you make your next winning move this season.
Which NHL players are having breakout or comeback seasons?
Every season there are several players who have breakout years, establishing themselves as some of the best up-and-coming stars in the league. In the 2024-25 season early breakout candidates have emerged such as Dylan Strome of the Washington Capitals (on-pace for his first 100-point season) and Ivan Barbashev of the Vegas Golden Knights (on-pace for career-high in points).
Additionally, nothing beats a comeback story, and that can be said about surging veterans such as Anze Koipitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars.
How often is NHL player news updated?
Our player news is updated regularly throughout the season, bringing you fresh player updates every day throughout the calendar year. Providing our users with a one-stop destination for everything you need to know from across the NHL, our player news is the go-to spot for all the biggest stories in the hockey universe.
What types of information does NHL player news cover?
Our NHL news covers every aspect of the hockey season. From injuries to trades to rumours and even suspensions, we’ve got you covered through it all with credible and fast-updates all-season long.
Are there specific sources for reliable NHL player updates?
All of our sources come from credible and reputable areas. When you’re at Daily Faceoff, you can trust that we are never going to spoon-feed you fake news. You can trust you’re only reading legitimate news that matters.
How does NHL player news impact betting lines?
Player news has a massive impact on the latest hockey betting lines. From daily game lines and prop bets, to Stanley Cup futures bets, every trade, roster change, and injury can shake up the odds set by oddsmakers.
By staying informed on the latest NHL updates, you can become a better NHL bettor as you’ll have a winning edge thanks to our in-depth news coverage.
DFO’s Specialized News Categories
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